HOME | DD

Description
The Grizzly I was a Canadian-built M4A1 Sherman with some modifications and was fitted with Canadian Dry Pin (CDP) tracks, which did not require rubber, a scarce wartime material.

After the fall of France, it was decided the nascent Canadian armoured divisions would be equipped by tanks produced in Canada. The result was the Ramm Cruiser Tank, based on the chassis and running gear of the US M3 Lee; Rams were produced by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) from 1941 to 1943. The M3 was succeeded by the superior M4 Sherman. The Allies agreed to standardize on the M4, and MLW began producing the Grizzly in August 1943.
Grizzly production halted when it became apparent US production would be sufficient. Instead, MLW produced the Sexton. The Sexton Mk II used the Grizzly chassis, with the upper hull modified to carry the Commonwealth standard QF 25 Pounder gun. The Sexton was the Commonwealth counterpart to the US M. A small batch of Grizzly medium tank was fitted with an OQF 17 Pounder Gun for training but none saw action. After the war, a number of Grizzly tanks and Sexton Self-Propelled Gun were sold to Portugal as part of the NATO military assistance program. They were retired in the 1980s.

Description
The Grizzly I was a Canadian-built M4A1 Sherman with some modifications and was fitted with Canadian Dry Pin (CDP) tracks, which did not require rubber, a scarce wartime material.

After the fall of France, it was decided the nascent Canadian armoured divisions would be equipped by tanks produced in Canada. The result was the Ramm Cruiser Tank, based on the chassis and running gear of the US M3 Lee; Rams were produced by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) from 1941 to 1943. The M3 was succeeded by the superior M4 Sherman. The Allies agreed to standardize on the M4, and MLW began producing the Grizzly in August 1943.
Grizzly production halted when it became apparent US production would be sufficient. Instead, MLW produced the Sexton. The Sexton Mk II used the Grizzly chassis, with the upper hull modified to carry the Commonwealth standard QF 25 Pounder gun. The Sexton was the Commonwealth counterpart to the US M. A small batch of Grizzly medium tank was fitted with an OQF 17 Pounder Gun for training but none saw action. After the war, a number of Grizzly tanks and Sexton Self-Propelled Gun were sold to Portugal as part of the NATO military assistance program. They were retired in the 1980s.